When you’re at the next park event or baseball game don’t be alarmed when you see Kokomo Police Officers striding through the crowd on top of horses.
The four-team horse patrol, which started three years ago, are geared for crowd control, allowing officers a high vantage point to spot potential or actual trouble, as well as serving as an effective means of dispersing unruly crowds, said KPD Maj. Jim Calabro, who is heading up the mounted patrols.
“The horses will be used mostly for events because they provide us for platform of about 6 to 8 feet above the ground,” Calabro said.
“It enables us to get better picture of the crowd and any problems.”
With the weather looking good and festivals coming up, the department began training with their four-legged companions recently to get ready.
“When we first looked at a [horse patrol] program, the only other police department to have one was IMPD [Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department],” Calabro said.
“So we went down and modeled our program around their model.”
The police department does not own the horses they ride. The four legged cruisers are rented from Eric Owens, the owner of Breezy Lane Carriage Co.
Along with horse training, the family-owned business located on Breezy Lane in Kokomo offers a variety of wagons and carriages for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, proposals, reunions, graduations, proms, parades, shuttle service and other occasions.
The Mounted Patrol also serves as good personal relations tool.
“One of the things we really like is it gives us a chance to interact with the public,” said Calabro.
“Nothing breaks the ice more than a cop on a horse. People come and children interact and see us as something more than law enforcement officer - somebody who's fun to talk to. It’s good public relations with the citizens.
“When we started, it was only patrols in the park,” he continued. “As time goes on, we’ve expanding them from parks to neighborhoods. It’s proven to be very good tool for us.”
While some officers have been around horses and rode horses before, others like Calabro are not as familiar with horses.
"I've never rode a horse before," Calabro said.
In training the officers, Owens said it's easier to train somebody whose never been on a horse.
"The ones who have rode before think they know everything and are harder to train."
The Mounted Patrol will begin patrolling during the opening game of the Kokomo Jackrabbits May 30.
Owens, along with Christian Clark, care for the horses and conducts training for the officers and horses.
On Wednesday, Owens along with the officers will be taking the horses to Western High School to let students see the horses and meet the officers.
Along with the Jackrabbits games, the Mounted Patrol will be utilized during events such as the Haynes Apperson Festival.
During the training, Owens said they try to get the horse and riders used to different situations.
“We start out getting them in the saddle,” said Owens.
“We teach them how to react in certain circumstances. We walk the horse around squad cars with lights and sirens on so the horse will get used to the sounds and lights.”
In addition, Owens said they walk the horses over bridges, rocks and get the officer and horse adjusted to each other.
“We try to get them used to dogs, balloons, patrol cars and lights and sirens,” he said.
Owens said horses have an inherent fear of wolves so they want to make sure the horse does not get spooked if they interact with a dog in the park or one of the police K9’s.
“If an officer has any doubt, we tell them to turn the horse around and get clear of the situation,” he said.
Owens also agreed that it’s a good PR tool for the officers to interact with the public.
“Everybody on our side really enjoys the program,” he said.
“The kids love the horses. We let them pet them – it’s an overall good experience.”